Senior Corey Cooper finished an outstanding Nebraska career in 2014 as a leader of the Blackshirt defense. Cooper was a fixture in the starting lineup for his final two seasons and was one of five Husker captains for the 2014 campaign.

The 6-1, 215-pound Cooper was effective in both pass coverage and run support. His play helped the Nebraska defense rank among the nation’s best in opponent completion percentage, pass efficiency defense and third-down defense.

Cooper started 12 games as a senior, missing only the regular-season finale at Iowa because of injury. He was third on the team with 73 tackles, including 46 solo stops. He had at least five tackles nine times, including a season-high 10 stops at Wisconsin. He also forced a pair of fumbles, and had an interception.

Cooper’s play earned him honorable-mention all-conference accolades from both the league’s coaches and media. Cooper will played in his 50th career game at Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl and made 29 career starts, including 25 of 26 games the past two seasons.

Cooper played the 2014 season as a graduate after earning his degree in ethnic studies last May.

2014 (Senior)Florida Atlantic: Started at safety, but didn’t record any stats. McNeese State: Totaled six tackles and notched NU’s first turnover of the season with his second career interception on the last play of the game. Fresno State: Made three tackles in NU win. Miami: Second on team with eight tackles, including four solo stops. Illinois: Started and produced three tackles in the 45-14 win. Michigan State: Totaled five tackles, including three solo stops. Northwestern: Played in his 45th career game and made eight tackles... pushed his career total to 150 tackles. Rutgers: Produced six tackles in his 25th career start. Purdue: Produced eight tackles, including his first TFL of the season... also notched his first break-up of the year. Wisconsin: Led the team with a season-high 10 tackles, including six solo stops... forced a pair of fumbles and also recorded his second TFL of the season. Minnesota: Made eight tackles, including four solo stops. Iowa: Did not play due to injury. USC: Capped his career with eight tackles vs. USC, including a team-high seven solo stops.

2013 (Junior)Cooper started all 13 games at safety, one of four defenders to start every game in 2013. He finished with a team-leading 91 tackles, including 52 solo stops. Cooper added an interception against Southern Miss, had five tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and a fumble caused.

Cooper made at least seven tackles in seven games, including double-figure totals against UCLA, South Dakota State, Illinois and Georgia. Cooper made four tackles each in the first two games against Wyoming and Southern Miss. He also had his first career interception in the fourth quarter against the Golden Eagles.

Cooper shattered his previous tackle high with a team-high 12 stops against UCLA, and also had a tackle for loss. He tied for the team lead in tackles with 10 stops, including seven solo, against South Dakota State. He had his first sack of the year against the Jackrabbits. Cooper recorded double figures in tackles for the third straight game with 10 stops against Illinois.

He had six tackles at Minnesota, then had seven tackles, including a sack, in the win over Northwestern. Cooper had five solo stops and a tackle for loss at Michigan, then tied for the team lead with eight tackles and a tackle for loss against Michigan State. Cooper made six tackles and forced a fumble at Penn State and closed the regular season with seven tackles, including four solo stops, against Iowa. Cooper recorded his fourth double-figure tackle game of the year with 10 stops, all solo, against Georgia in the Gator Bowl. He made a key tackle on Bulldog running back Todd Gurley late in the game to stop a UGA scoring threat in Nebraska’s 24-19 victory.

2012 (Sophomore)Cooper played in all 14 games and made starts against Idaho State, Northwestern and Georgia. Cooper saw his most extensive action in nickel and dime roles, while adding depth at safety. He finished the season with 17 tackles, including eight solo stops. Cooper had a seven-yard tackle for loss against Southern Miss and shared a sack against Idaho State. Cooper had a season-high four tackles against both UCLA and Arkansas State, and he added two tackles each against Northwestern and Iowa.

2011 (Redshirt Freshman)Cooper played in 11 games, including a start at cornerback in NU’s win over Wyoming. He moved back to safety for the majority of the year and finished with nine tackles, including eight solo stops. Cooper had three unassisted tackles at Wyoming and had two tackles against both Chattanooga and Washington.

2010 (Redshirt)Cooper redshirted in his first year at Nebraska in 2010.

Before Nebraska (Proviso East HS)Cooper had 70 tackles and 16 pass breakups, while adding two interceptions as a senior at Proviso East. Cooper was also a dangerous receiver, with 43 catches for 852 yards and nine touchdowns for Coach Aaron Peppers. Cooper earned West Suburban all-conference honors and was a Chicago Tribune first-team all-state selection.

As a junior, Cooper helped his team to an 8-3 record and a trip to the second round of the state playoffs. He had 61 tackles, 14 pass breakups, an interception and forced three fumbles. He also caught 41 passes for 814 yards and eight touchdowns. He was also a two-way starter as a sophomore when he caught 35 passes for 500 yards and four touchdowns.

Cooper also competed in basketball and track for Proviso East. He was ranked among the top five prospects in Illinois and among the top 20 safety recruits in the country in 2010. Cooper chose NU after also visiting Arizona, Illinois and Notre Dame.

PersonalCorey is the son of Corey Sr. and Rose Cooper and was born on July 2, 1992. Cooper earned was an academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2011, and earned a spot on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the spring 2014 semester. He has volunteered his time with Husker Heroes and with team hospital visits.